Soldiers in Guinea-Bissau appeared on state television on Wednesday (November 26) saying they had seized power, hours after gunfire was reported near the presidential palace in Bissau, three days after national elections were held.

Reading a statement on behalf of the military high command, spokesperson Dinis N’Tchama said the armed forces had decided “to immediately depose the President of the Republic” and suspend all state institutions “until new orders”. He claimed the move followed the discovery of what the military described as an attempt to destabilise the country.

The statement alleged that “domestic and foreign nationals” had sought to manipulate electoral results and said the armed forces would suspend the ongoing electoral process, halt media operations and close all borders. No further details were provided.

The presidential and legislative polls were held on Sunday. Both incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and opposition candidate Fernando Dias da Costa claimed victory on Tuesday, despite provisional results from the election commission not being expected until Thursday.

Gunfire was heard around midday near the presidential palace, with an Associated Press journalist reporting that surrounding roads had been sealed off by heavily armed and masked soldiers. Additional gunfire was later reported near the headquarters of the national election commission.

Guinea-Bissau has experienced repeated instability since independence, including multiple successful and attempted coups. Observers had warned that overlapping presidential and legislative contests, combined with intense political rivalry, risked heightening tensions during the vote-counting period.

Regional bodies, including ECOWAS and the African Union, are monitoring the situation. Further updates are expected once the election commission provides its first official results.